The Comitium
The Comitium was in the Centre of all political activity in the Roman Republic, the Senate met in the Curia, which was apart of the Comitium. Some of the most ancient monuments of archaic Rome has been found near or under the Comitium, such as the Vulcanal and the Lapis Niger, with the oldest known inscription in the Latin language.
The Comitium Changed through out its 5 years of existence, Excavators on the site revealed no less than 8 different layers of pavement and at least 4 different arrangements for it. The Comitium was mainly used for assemblies to gather to hear speeches and announcements and their Votes were taken place here, in the Comitium.
At Some time between 300 BCE and 250 BEC the Comitium is completely reconstructed, this was probably because of exposure to Greek culture, that the Romans met in South Italy and in Sicily during the First Punic War. Through the time the Comitium had been around. during the Republican Era, the Comitium was enlarged and changed shape, the republican Comitium was modelled after the ekklesiastéria found in Greek cities where it Served a similar purpose. this version of the Structure was circular as seen in the photo above. The Comitium had internal steps all the way around a lowered central space. People who would participate in the activities that showed up to this Destination would be seated there while listening to speakers located in either the center or on the Rostra.
The Comitium maintained this form and size until the first century BCE
When the Roman Republic was pushed to its end, L. Cornelius Sulla grew the Senate from 300 to 600 members. The old enate building was too small to accompany the increased numbers of senators and in 80 BCE Sulla had the Curia enlarged. once the building was larger it was at times called both Curia Hostilia and or Curia Cornelia, but although it was enlarged from a previous building people still classify it as a new building. During this the Greek Style Comitium was destroyed, as the new Curia Cornelia was moved forward to the old building. luckily the Rostra was preserved. but the area's used for tribunals in the comitium were lost and the tribunals moved somewhere else. The area that was used was than paved with Black slabs of stone.
Julius Caesar had plans to completely reconstruct the Forum Romanum, this had an impact on the Comitium as well. Most of Caesar's plans followed through even after his death, by Augustus. Some of his Changes implied that he would ahve to move the Religious and political functions of the Comitium to the main square of the Forum. The Rostra was moved to the main square, where meetings took place for a while due to lack of space in the Comitium, The Curia Cornelia was later on transformed in to a Temple of Felicitas (general's luck or good fortune). an Entirely new meeting hall was built for the Senate which was called the Curia Julia, These were the last Reconstructions of The Forum Romanum, this is what you see standing today.
At Some time between 300 BCE and 250 BEC the Comitium is completely reconstructed, this was probably because of exposure to Greek culture, that the Romans met in South Italy and in Sicily during the First Punic War. Through the time the Comitium had been around. during the Republican Era, the Comitium was enlarged and changed shape, the republican Comitium was modelled after the ekklesiastéria found in Greek cities where it Served a similar purpose. this version of the Structure was circular as seen in the photo above. The Comitium had internal steps all the way around a lowered central space. People who would participate in the activities that showed up to this Destination would be seated there while listening to speakers located in either the center or on the Rostra.
The Comitium maintained this form and size until the first century BCE
When the Roman Republic was pushed to its end, L. Cornelius Sulla grew the Senate from 300 to 600 members. The old enate building was too small to accompany the increased numbers of senators and in 80 BCE Sulla had the Curia enlarged. once the building was larger it was at times called both Curia Hostilia and or Curia Cornelia, but although it was enlarged from a previous building people still classify it as a new building. During this the Greek Style Comitium was destroyed, as the new Curia Cornelia was moved forward to the old building. luckily the Rostra was preserved. but the area's used for tribunals in the comitium were lost and the tribunals moved somewhere else. The area that was used was than paved with Black slabs of stone.
Julius Caesar had plans to completely reconstruct the Forum Romanum, this had an impact on the Comitium as well. Most of Caesar's plans followed through even after his death, by Augustus. Some of his Changes implied that he would ahve to move the Religious and political functions of the Comitium to the main square of the Forum. The Rostra was moved to the main square, where meetings took place for a while due to lack of space in the Comitium, The Curia Cornelia was later on transformed in to a Temple of Felicitas (general's luck or good fortune). an Entirely new meeting hall was built for the Senate which was called the Curia Julia, These were the last Reconstructions of The Forum Romanum, this is what you see standing today.
1. What did they do in the Comitium?
2. how many layers did the Excavators find?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/158_Comitium.html
http://honorsaharchive.blogspot.com.au/2008/07/from-comitia-to-curia-to-church.html
2. how many layers did the Excavators find?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/158_Comitium.html
http://honorsaharchive.blogspot.com.au/2008/07/from-comitia-to-curia-to-church.html